Automatic can-filling machine.



No. 56U,|0l. Patented Got. 23, I900.

J. E. .1. GOODLETT. AUTUMATIC CAN FILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 19. 1809.) (No Model.) 5 Sheeta-Sheat l.

. INVENTO/Y W/TA/ESSES ATTORNEY ms: Norms PETERS ca, FHOTO-LITH).. WASHINGTON. a c

Patented Oct. 23, I900.

J. E. J. GUUDLETT. AUTOMATIC CAN FILLING MACHINE.

(Appfication filed Aug. 19, 1899.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Mariel.)

WITNESSES.

m: Noam: PEYERS co, wmwuwu. msumomsl u. c,

N0. 668 M]. Patented Oct. 23, I900.

J. E. J. GODDLETT.

AUTOMATIC CAN FILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 19, 1899.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

WITNESSES: V

INV-ENTOH ma NQRRIS PUERS co. Pnm'ounon WASHINGTON. a. c.

W0. ESUJUL Patented-0st. 23, I900.

J. E. J. GUODLETT'.

AUTOMATIC BAN FILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 19, 1899.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

WITNESSES A NO A/Er n15 NORR": urns co. PHOYG-LITHO., WASHINGTON, n. c.

N0. fifilULlll'M. Patented UN. 23, I900.

' J. E. J. GDDDLETT.

AUTOMATIC CAN. FILLING MMGHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 19, 1899.) (No Model.) 5 Shasta-Sheet 5.

H m N M W W/T/VESSES A FOB/V5) m: norms Pawns co, wore-mm). WASHINGTON, o. c.

JOSEPH E. J. GOODLETT, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

AUTOMATJIC CAN -FILLING MACHINE.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters latent No. 660,101, dated October 23, 1900. Application filed August 19,1899. Serial No. 727,781. (No model.-

ers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

An especial object of this invention is to provide for filling and capping cans whose caps are frictionally held when forced into sealing position; but in general the object is to provide a simple, convenient, and effective machine for filling cans of any size automat ically and in endless succession. The machine acts only while held in operation by the positive act of the operator, and hence it stops whenever the operator is for any reason of the opinion that stopping is desirable.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is an elevation showing part of the machine as seen from the left in Fig. 1. Fig. L is a plan view. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a vertical and a horizontal section of certain filling devices. Fig. 7 is a plan view of certain can-holding devices. Fig. 8 is a plan view of drip-catching devices. Fig. 9 is a section at 9 9, Fig. 8.

In the figures,A designates a suitable frame; B, a power-shaft mounted therein; 0, a camshaft driven from the power-shaft by gears C 0 and D an endless-belt traveling table consisting of sprocket-chains D, connected by slightly separated bars D and carried by sprocket-wheels D mounted upon shafts D parallel to the shafts B C. Centrally above the table are can-filling devices E, and at some distance to one side of the filling devices and nearly over that end of the table toward which the upper folds of the chains move are cap seating devices F. The table has a step-by-step movement, and the cans placed upon it at the end opposite the capseating devices advance and stop beneath the filling devices. When filled, they advance one step and rest during the filling of the next acting through antifriction-rollers O in the usual manner, drive vertical rods C at each side of the machine. At the top of the machine these rods are attached to a cross-head which slides vertically upon guide-rods O fixed to the frame A, and near their lower ends they are slotted to fit over the shaft 0, which thus prevents their lateral displacement. To the middle portion of one rod is attached by a common slot-and-pivot connection O one arm 0 of a bell-crank lever pivoted to the frame and having its other arm 0 connected by a link C to a rack-bar C, which engages a loose gear 0 upon one of the sprocket-wheel shafts. The gear-bears spring-actuated pawls 0 which engage a ratchet-wheel 0 with which the sprocketwheel shaft is rigidly connected. Now, the gear being revoluble independently of the sprocket-wheel, the pawls force the latter to rotate when the rack-bar moves in one direction, but slip upon the ratchet-wheel and leave the sprocket-wheel at rest when the rack-bar and gear move in the contrary direction, and thus the table receives a stepby-step movement. Cleats D are fixed to the table at suitable intervals, and the cans to be filled are placed upon the table in advance of the cleats at the opposite end to the capseating device in position so as to rest laterallyin depressions D in a cross-bar D WVhen cans are thus in position, the advance of the table causes them to be engaged by one of the cleats and carried forward, and the proportions of travel are such that at the end of one of the tables steps they lie immediately beneath the filling devices.

To compensate for any Wear or stretching of the chains, or either of them, one of the sprocket-wheel shaftsis mounted in brackets D which are adjusted upon the frame A by means of screws D and are rigidly locked in adjustment by bolts D Adjustment of the head C Each cylinder has two openings be- 1 lowan inlet G and an outlet G -opened and closed alternately by a spring-pressed conical valve G whose stempasses through a stuffin g-box G The valve G2 is formed with a through-port g and a right-angle port g. The outlet G connects with the through-port g to a filling or discharge spout G While the inlet G by way of the right-angle port g, communicates with a feed-channel G leading to a chamber G, into which the material is brought by a pipe G To insure quick and certain filling of each cylinder, each is provided with an opening G forming a free passage leading from a point just below the highest position of the lower end of the plunger to the corresponding channel G or chamber G properly-timed cam H upon the shaft 0, the cam acting through a roller H, pivoted lever H rod H bell-crank lever H connectingbar H and crank-arms 1-1 fixed to the valvestems, respectively.

Immediately below the filling-spouts G is a drip-catching device consisting of a reciprocating bar I, bearing a pan 1, having in its bottom elongated openings 1 surrounded by flanges 1 The bar is connected by a link I to one arm of the bellcrank lever H so that as the latter swings to open the valves it slides the bar longitudinally and brings the opening 1 into register with the corresponding spouts, and thus allows the material to pass down into the cans below. movement is reversed and any material that may escape passes along the pan, around the flanged openings, and through a spout I to a receptacle I whence it is withdrawn through an outlet 1 One set of cans being thus filled,

the next advance of the table brings another; set into position for filling and leaves the; former set between the filling and cap-seating Here the caps are added by the operator, and a moment later the table again devices.

advances, bringing the cans just provided with caps beneath the devices at F. These devices include a cross-head J, moving ver- 'tically in ways in the frame members J and j bearing downwardly-projecting elastic pressf ers J which force the caps home when the The cross-head is drawn downward by rods J pivotally attached to:

cross-head descends.

I bent levers J which swing about pivots J 5 and bear at their free ends short arms J, hinged to swing upward but not downward with reference to the levers and yieldingly held at their outermost or, with reference to the levers, lowest positions by springs J The rotary valves G are operated by a Y As the valves close this These arms lie in the path of upwardly-rounded adjustable projections K upon the rods 0 and as the rods rise the projections push the arms aside and pass them; but when the rods descend the projections catch the arms and swing the levers downward until the arms in moving in a circular path about the leverpivots pass out of the path of the projections. Obviously this swinging of the levers draws the cross-head down in. its ways, and thus forces the pressers upon the caps in the manner already suggested. The instant after the arms escape from the projections all these parts are restored to normal positions by the force of stout springs K beneath the crosshead. At the next advance of the table the cans just capped are delivered upon their sides upon a transversely-inclined platform L, along which when cylindrical they roll to other devices (not shown) for labeling, 8w.

Throughout their whole course upon the table the cans are guided by light bars M, attached to the frame of the cap-seating de vices and extending to the opposite end of the machine.

To hold the cans during the filling and to insure having each pushed back against the .cleat which advances it, I fix to the frame a rigid bar N, from which depend adjustable rods N, hearing at their lower ends can-clasping springs N between which the cans are forced by the cleats. The springs, which are arranged in coacting pairs, are curved inward and outward centrally and inward and outward at their ends, so that each can is held with some firmness in exact position between the springs of a pair while the table is at rest and the cans are being filled; but as the table again advances the cleat just behind the cans imparts a positive forward movement, the springs yield, and the cans pass out of their embrace between their yielding outwardlyprojecting ends.

The form of the cams operating the plungers is such that the latter descend to a predetermined point before the opening of the valves, and thus some part of the material which has entered the cylinders is suddenly forced out through the two openings Gr and G in each cylinder, through one or both of which it may have entered, and hence if either opening be clogged the difficulty is overcome before any harm results.

The gear 0 upon the driving-shaft is free from the shaft, but is forced to rotate therewith when desired by means of a frictionclutch one member 0 of which is rigidly attached to gear, while the other member 0 such that the clutch engages only while the outer end of the bent lever is held down by the operator, or, in other words, the machine operates only while the operator by positive action compels it to operate.

The machine may be adapted for use with cans of various sizes,the only change required being the substitution of cams upon the free ends of the camshaft, and with the construction shown such substitution may be made with trifling loss of time.

It is evident that changes may be made in the forms shown without passing the limits of my invention and that certain subcombinations may be used in machines otherwise materially different from that herein illus trated. I do not therefore wish to limit myself to the precise devices set forth, but desire to cover all the patentable novelty disclosed.

What I claim is- 1. A cylinder for a can-filling machine constructed with an inlet and an outlet at its lower end, a channel having a dischargespout and extending beneath the inlet and outlet, and a valve, for opening and closing the inlet and the outlet, alternately, having a rightangle port providing communication between the inlet and the channel, and also a through-port providing communication between the outlet and the dischargespout.

2. A cylinder .for a can-filling machine constrneted with an inlet and an outlet at its lower end, a chamber near its upper end, a channel having a discharge-spout and extending from the chamber and beneath the inlet and outlet, an opening providing communication between the cylinder and the chamber, and a valve located in the channel and controlling the inlet, the outlet, and the discharge-spout.

A cylinder for a can-filling machine constructed with an inlet and an outlet at its lower end, a chamber near its upper end, a channel having a discharge-spout and extending from the chamber and beneath the inlet and outlet, an opening providing communication between the cylinder and the chamber and a valve, for opening and closing the inlet and the outlet alternately, having a port providing con'lmunication between the inlet and the channel, and also a port providing communication between the outlet and the discharge-spout.

al. A can-filling machine comprising a cylinder constructed with an inlet and an outlet at its lower end, a channel having a discharge-spout, a valve controlling the discharge-spout, a long closelyfitting plunger working in the cylinder, vertical guide-rods, a crosshead, by which the plunger is carried, sliding on the guide-rods, vertical rods, to which the cross-head is attached, having slotted lower ends, a cam-shaft extending through the slotted lower ends of the vertical rods, and cams secured to the cam-shaft and connected with the lower ends of the vertical rods for driving the latter.

5. A can-filling machine comprising a cylinder constructed with an inlet and an outlet at its lower end, a channel having a discharge spout, a valve controlling the discharge-spout, a crank-arm secured to the valve-stem, a valve-rod pivoted to the crankarm, a drive-rod, a bell-crank lever connecting the valve-rod with the drive-rod, a pivoted lever with which the drive-rod is connected, a cam-shaft, and a cam-wheel secured to the cam-shaft and connected with the pivoted lever.

6. A can-filling machine comprising a cy1- inder constructed with a discharge-spout, a valve controlling the discharge-spout, a re ciprocating bar, a drip-pan secured to the bar, and having an elongated opening in its bottom, a flange surrounding the opening, and a discharge-spout, a receptacle having an outlet, and means for operating the valve and bar, alternately.

7. A can-filling machine comprising a cylinder constructed with a discharge-spout, a valve controlling the discharge-spout, a valvearm secured to the valve-stem, a valve-rod pivoted to the crank-arm, a drive-rod, a bellcrank lever, connecting the valve-rod with the drive'rod, a pivoted lever with which the drive-rod is connected, a camshaft, a camwheel secured to the camshaft and connected with the pivoted lever, a reciprocating bar, a drip-pan secured to the bar, an d having an elongated opening in its bottom, a flange surrounding the opening, and a discharge-spout, and a link connecting the bar with the bellcrank lever.

8. A can-filling machine comprisinga table provided with means to engage the cans placed thereon and force them to advance therewith, means for impartinga step-by-step movement to the table, a rigid bar located over the table, adjustable rods depending from the bar and the clasping-springs secured to the rods in pairs and curved inward and outward centrally, and inward and outward at their ends.

9. Acan-filling machine comprising an endless-belt table having cleats for advancing the cans, an inclined cross-bar having depressions in which the cans rest, brackets having adjustable arms on which the crossbar is supported, and means for advancing the table with the cans in series, step by step.

10. A can-filling machine comprising an endless belt having cleats for advancing the cans, an inclined cross-bar having depressions in which the cans rest, and the guidebars between which the cans pass extending from end to end of the machine.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH E. J. GOODLETT.

Witnesses:

S. D. EDWARDS, THOS. J. Fox.

IIO 

